Jordan's chronic trade deficit shot up 35.4 percent during the first four months of this year, compared to the same period the year before, the Jordan Times reported, quoting official data.
According to the Department of Statistics monthly report, the deficit jumped to JD609.6 million against JD450 million during the months in comparison.
Both national exports and re-exported goods saw a rise of 12.4 percent and 14.5 percent, respectively, in the first quarter of the year, but they could not offset the 25 percent increase in imports, said the daily.
The data showed that the exports to the US markets registered the highest rates, a 5-fold rise over the year 2000 figures, to reach JD38.4 million by the end of April 2001.
The rise, according to the paper, was triggered by increasing exports from three of Jordan's Qualifying Industrial Zones — Karak, Amman and Irbid's Al Hassan Industrial Estate — which export duty and quota free to the US market – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
